तदेव तव पुत्रस्य राजन्दुर्द्यूतदेविनः। कृते क्षत्रविनाशाय धनुरायच्छदर्जुनः
That very bow, O king, Arjuna now draws for the destruction of your son, who was deceived by the evil dice game.
तथा विक्षोभ्यमाणा सा पार्थेन तव वाहिनी। व्यशीर्यत महाराज नौरिवासाद्य पर्वतम्
Thus, O great king, your army, shaken by Partha, was scattered, like a boat dashed against a mountain.
ततो दशसहस्राणि न्यवर्तन्त धनुष्मताम्। मतिं कृत्वा रणे क्रूरां वीरा जयपराजये
Then, ten thousand bowmen turned back, having resolved in battle to be fierce, whether in victory or defeat.
व्यपेतहृदयत्रासा आवव्रुस्तं महारथाः। आर्च्छत्पार्थो गुरुं भारं सर्वभारसहो युधि
Those great chariot-warriors, their hearts free from fear, surrounded him; Partha, who bears all burdens in battle, took on the heavy task.
यथा नलवनं क्रुद्धः प्रभिन्नः षष्टिहायनः। मृद्गीयात्तद्वदायस्तः पार्थोऽमृद्गाच्चमूं तव
Just as an enraged, sixty-year-old elephant crushes a lotus grove, so did Partha, uninjured, crush your army.
तस्मिन्प्रमथिते सैन्ये भगदत्तो नराधिपः। तेन नागेन सहसा धनञ्जयमुपाद्रवत्
When the army was thus shattered, King Bhagadatta swiftly advanced against Dhananjaya with his elephant.
तं रथेन नरव्याघ्रः प्रत्यगृह्णाद्धनञ्जयः। स सन्निपातस्तुमुलो बभूव नरनागयोः
Dhananjaya, tiger among men, confronted him with his chariot; and a tumultuous clash arose between the man and the elephant.
कल्पिताभ्यां यथाशास्त्रं रथेन च गजेन च। सङ्ग्रामे चेरतुर्वीरौ भगदत्तधनञ्जयौ
Both heroes, Bhagadatta and Dhananjaya, maneuvered in battle according to the rules, one with his elephant, the other with his chariot.
ततो जीमूतसङ्काशान्नागादिन्द्र इव प्रभुः। अभ्यवर्षच्छरौघेण भगदत्तो धनञ्जयम्
Then Bhagadatta, lordly as Indra among the Nagas and shining like a raincloud, showered Dhananjaya with a torrent of arrows.
स चापि शरवर्षं तं शरवर्षेण वासिवः। अप्राप्तमेव चिच्छेद भगदत्तस्य वीर्यवान्
But the valiant Arjuna, with a rain of arrows of his own, cut down Bhagadatta’s arrow-shower before it could reach him.
ततः प्राग्ज्योतिषो राजा शरवर्षे निवारिते। संरक्तनयनो रोषात्पार्थं पुनरवाकिरत्
Then the king of Pragjyotisha, his arrow-shower thwarted, his eyes red with anger, again covered Partha with arrows.
स तथा शरवर्षेण पार्थं समभिहत्य वै। चोदयामास तं नागं वधायाच्युतपार्थयोः
Striking Partha with that hail of arrows, he urged his elephant forward to slay Krishna and Arjuna.
तमापतन्तं द्विरदं दृष्ट्वा क्रुद्धमिवान्तकम्। चक्रेऽपसव्यं त्वरितः स्यन्दनेन जनार्दनः
Seeing that charging elephant, furious like Death himself, Janardana swiftly turned the chariot to the left.
सम्प्राप्तमपि नेयेष परावृत्तं महाद्विपम्। सारोहं मृत्युसात्कर्तुं स्मरन्धर्मं धनञ्जयः
Even as the great elephant approached, Dhananjaya, mindful of righteousness, would not turn it back or destroy it along with its rider.
स तु नागो द्विपरथान्हयांश्चामृद्य मारिष। प्राहिणोन्मृत्युलोकाय ततः क्रुद्धो धनञ्जयः
But that elephant, O dear one, crushed elephants, chariots, and horses, sending them to the realm of death; then Arjuna grew angry.
स प्लुतः स्यन्दनात्तस्मान्नीलश्चर्मवरासिभृत्। द्रौणायनेः शिरः कायाद्धर्तुमैच्छत्पतत्त्रिवत्
Then Nila, bearer of a blue shield and sword, leapt from his chariot, seeking to sever the head of Drona’s son like a bird’s wing.
तस्योद्यतासेः सुनसं शिरः कायात्सकुण्डलम्। भल्लेनापाहरद्द्रौणिः स्मयमान इवानघ
But Drona’s son, smiling, struck off his beautiful, earringed head with a razor-sharp arrow before the sword could fall.
सम्पूर्णचन्द्राभमुखः पद्मपत्रनिभेक्षणः। प्रांशुरुत्पलपत्राभो निहतो न्यपतद्भुवि
His face full as the moon, his eyes like lotus petals, tall and radiant as a blue lotus leaf, he fell slain to the earth.
ततः प्रविव्यथे सेना पाण्डवी भृशमाकुला। आचार्यपुत्रेण हते नीले ज्वलिततेजसि
Then the Pandava army was deeply shaken and thrown into confusion, seeing Nila of blazing energy slain by the preceptor’s son.
अचिन्तयंश्च ते सर्वे पाण्डवानां महारथाः। कथं नो वासविस्त्रायाच्छत्रुभ्य इति मारिष
All the great chariot-warriors of the Pandavas thought, 'How will Vasava protect us from our enemies now, O dear one?'
दक्षिणेन तु सेनायाः कुरुते कदनं बली। संशप्तकावशेषस्य नारायणबलस्य च
On the southern side of the army, the mighty one was slaughtering the remnants of the Samsaptakas and the Narayana battalion.
प्रतिघातं तु सैन्यस्य नामृष्यत वृकोदरः। सोऽभ्याहनद्गुरुं षष्ट्या कर्णं च दशभिः शरैः
Vrikodara could not bear the repulse of the army; he struck Drona with sixty arrows and Karna with ten.
तस्य द्रोणः शितैर्बाणैस्तीक्ष्णधारैरजिह्मगैः। जीवितान्तमभिप्रेप्सुर्मर्मण्याशु जघान ह
Drona, seeking to end his life, struck him swiftly in the vital parts with sharp, straight-flying arrows.
आनन्तर्यमभिप्रेप्सुः षड्विंशत्या शमार्पयत्। कर्णो द्वादशभिर्बाणैरश्वत्थामा च सप्तभिः
Karna, seeking to follow up, struck him with twenty-six arrows; Ashvatthama with seven, and Karna with twelve more.
षङ्भिर्दुर्योधनो राजा तत एनमथाकिरत्। भीमसेनोऽपि तान्सर्वान्प्रत्यविध्यन्महाबलः
King Duryodhana then covered him with six arrows; but Bhimasena, of great might, struck all of them in return.
द्रोणं पञ्चाशतेषूणां कर्णं च दशभिः शरैः। दर्योधनं द्वादशभिर्दौणिमष्टाभिराशुगैः
He struck Drona with fifty arrows, Karna with ten, Duryodhana with twelve, and Drona’s son with eight swift shafts.
आरावं तुमुलं कुर्वन्नभ्यवर्तत तान्रणे। तस्मिन्सन्त्यति प्रामान्मृत्युसाधारणीकृते
He advanced upon them in battle, raising a tumultuous clamor, as that field became a place where death was common to all.
अजातशत्रुस्तान्योधान्भीमं त्रातेत्यचोदयत्। ते ययुर्भीमसेनस्य समीपममितौजसः
Ajātaśatru urged those warriors, saying, 'Protect Bhīma!' And those of immeasurable energy went toward Bhīmasena.
युयुधानप्रभृतयो माद्रीपुत्रौ च पाण्डवौ। ते समेत्य सुसंरब्धाः सहिताः पुरुषर्षभाः
Yuyudhāna and others, along with the two sons of Mādrī, those foremost of men, came together, greatly enraged and united.
महेष्वासवरैर्गुप्ता द्रोणानीकं बिभित्सवः। समापेतुर्महावीर्या भीमप्रभृतयो रथाः
Guarded by mighty archers, those chariot-warriors of great valor, headed by Bhīma, eager to strike, approached Droṇa's array.